Personalized Consulting Services to Grow Your Business

Diverse business team collaborating at a table

The Illinois Minority Business Development Agency (IL MBDA) Business Center promotes the growth and global competitiveness of small businesses through business development and capacity building. We help our clients secure capital, access new markets, compete for contracts, or make strategic partners and business moves.

We deliver services that are community based, culturally aware, and customized to align with the needs of the Illinois’ business communities.

  • We serve English and Spanish speakers.
  • While we serve all small businesses, our target clients are businesses with annual revenues of at least $500,000.

Strategic Business Consulting

Two women at a table with coffee discussing business

We support our clients on their respective business development and capacity building journeys with:

  • One-to-one customized strategic business planning and guidance
  • Business Seminars and workshops (sales and pricing, technology, business strategy and processes, legal, etc.)
  • Professional service referrals to small businesses of all sizes
  • Potential partnerships and joint venture opportunities.

Grant Writing & Funding

Minority business team working on a grant proposal

We’ll match you with our business advisors and partners who offer access to:

  • Commercial lending and banking
  • Financial, credit and risk analysis
  • SBA and conventional loans qualification and evaluation
  • Loan and grant identification and packaging
  • Equipment Financing
  • Investors
  • General business finance counseling and training

Certification & New Markets

Women standing with iPad with adult students behind her

We help our clients access domestic and international markets by providing:

  • Minority Business Certification assistance
  • Matchmaking with corporations and local, state, or federal government agencies
  • Access to grants, bids, contracts, and export opportunities
  • Procurement/Vendor Registration Assistance
  • Business workshops
  • Access to exclusive local and nationwide networking forums

Success Stories

American Airlines Silver Spoon Hero

Success Story: Tamara Turner founded Silver Spoon Desserts in her Aurora, Illinois, home. Through her passion, she helps create opportunities and change lives of people in her community. You can…

Read More

Open a Brick and Mortar in IL

Ms. Jana came to us because she wanted to take her DELICIOUS candy making to the next level. Since then, Ms. Jana became a certified MWBE, successfully grew her business…

Read More

From 1 Client to 10 Clients in 6 Months

Strategic Exceptions and Terrie Simmons have really been critical to me realizing that I am capable of long-term success as well as helping me to get started on a journey…

Read More